Six Kalamazoo College football players earn All-MIAA honors

In this file photo from earlier in the season, Kalamazoo College plays at home against Manchester. The Hornets finished the season 5-5.Matt Gade | MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette

KALAMAZOO, MI — Six members of the Kalamazoo College football team were recognized with All-MIAA honors as selected by the league coaches on Monday.

Dimeko Price and Alan Mencer were selected to the All-MIAA First Team while Mikael Lott, Erick Helfmann, Jake Larioza, and Connor Rzeznik earned All-MIAA Second Team honors.

Price, a senior from Battle Creek (Battle Creek Lakeview HS) earned All-MIAA First Team honors at running back for the second consecutive year. He was also a first team selection as a return specialist in 2010 while also earning second team honors at running back. In conference play this season, Price was second in the league in all purpose yards (135.2 ypg) and third in rushing yards (73.5). Overall, Price rushed for 841 yards and six touchdowns while breaking Kalamazoo's career rushing record. He also led the team with 425 receiving yards and two touchdowns while also averaging 19.2 yards per kick return.

Mencer, a sophomore defensive lineman from Novi (Novi HS), earned All-MIAA First Team honors for the first time after also earning MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors earlier in the season. Mencer ranked fourth in the league in tackles for loss (1.42/game), eighth in sacks (.50/game), and second in fumble recoveries (2), both of which were returned for touchdowns. Overall, Mencer was fourth on the team with 49 tackles, including 12.5 for loss with five sacks.

Helfmann, a senior from Fowlerville (Fowlerville HS), was the anchor of the Hornets' offensive line and was recognized with All-MIAA Second Team honors for the third straight season.

Lott, a senior wide receiver from Lake Orion (Lake Orion HS), ranked sixth in the MIAA in receptions (3.67/game) and 10th in all purpose yards (68.0 ypg). Overall, Lott led Kalamazoo with 33 catches for 358 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team with 20.2 yards per kick return.

Larioza, a junior defensive lineman from Fowlerville (Fowlerville HS), ranked second in the MIAA in forced fumbles (2) and third in sacks (.67/game). Overall, Larioza finished the season with 28 tackles, including nine for loss with five sacks.

Rzeznik, a sophomore linebacker from Walled Lake (Walled Lake Central), was eighth in the league in tackles for loss (1.17/game). Overall, Rzeznik was third on the team in tackles (52) with 15.5 for loss with five sacks.

Kalamazoo finished the season with an overall record of 5-5 (2-4 MIAA).